Venetian Dahlia Collection

* * * * - Based on 38 reviews
An incredible collection of eight dahlias exclusively put together by Sarah, for wonderful colours in the garden, and if you keep picking them, each tuber will give you hundreds of flowers to arrange. More
8 tubers (1 of each) 229197-8 £29.95 Delivery late February
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When in stock, please allow up to 1 week for delivery.
16 tubers (2 of each) 229197-16 £54.95 Delivery late February
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When in stock, please allow up to 1 week for delivery.
8 x 3 litre plants 190653-8 £76.95 Delivery mid May
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When in stock, please allow up to 1 week for delivery.
More Details

An incredible collection of eight dahlias exclusively put together by Sarah. This collection will provide wonderful colours in the garden, and if you keep picking them, each tuber will give you hundreds of flowers to arrange from early July through to November.

This collection contains:

Our dahlias:

  • are first class, healthy tubers – the largest and best you can buy.
  • come with full planting, spacing and cultivating instructions for beginner gardeners
  • tubers should be potted up when they arrive and be kept in a light, frost-free place until the frosts are over and then be planted into the garden.

This can be gift wrapped in our exclusive hessian sack, with ribbon and a Sarah Raven gift card. You will be able to add this to your basket once you begin the checkout process. To add a gift message to your order, simply fill out the details at the delivery stage of the checkout.

Please note: only items which are showing ‘in stock’ can be gift wrapped.

Genus Dahlia
Group/Species Ball Group,

Larger than pompoms and have a spiral arrangement of incurved petals forming a ball-shaped flower. Click here for more information about dahlia groups.

 Decorative Group,

Broad and flat petals, normally bluntly pointed, with no central disc showing. Click here for more information about dahlia groups.

 Miscellaneous Group,

Orchid-flowered and Peony-flowered types are classified as Miscellaneous. Also includes Double Orchis-flowered, Bishop, Mini Bishop and Star dahlias. Click here for more information about dahlia groups.

 Semi-cactus Group

Fully double blooms, with very pointed petals, almost spiky in appearance. Click here for more information about dahlia groups. 
Variety Ambition, Con Amore, Downham Royal, Jescot Julie, Jowey Mirella, New Baby, Sam Hopkins, Thomas A. Edison
Type Tender Perennial Tuber
Common Name Dahlia
Border Position Back, Middle
Bulb Size I
Soil Type Acid, Chalky, Fertile, Neutral
Scent Unscented
Site Full Sun
Moisture Moist but Well-drained
Height 1.2m (3ft 11in)
Spacing Plant just under the soil surface, 75cm (30in) apart.
Sowing, Seeds, Planting Pot them up undercover March or early April in a generous pot (at least 2 litre) filled with multi-purpose potting compost. Place them in a light, frost-free place and keep the compost moist. Pinch out their growing tips when they have reached about 8" tall. They will have formed bushy plants by the time the frosts have ended and will be in flower by the beginning of July. If you don’t have anywhere to grow the potted tubers, you can put them straight into the ground when the frosts are nearly over, mulching them or protecting with a cloche or protective horticultural fleece if the foliage appears before the frosts are over, but this will delay flowering.
Care Tips Support with a stout stick, tie in every couple of weeks. In the south you can mulch deeply and overwinter them in the ground, alternatively, lift and overwinter your dahlias frost free undercover.
Flowering July - November
Vase Life Only pick dahlias in full flower. Recut the hollow stem ends under water to avoid airlocks.
Harvesting Flower production 5 months
Cooking Notes All dahlia flowers are edible. I use the petals scattered over salad and to decorate a range of puddings.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sow Under Cover/Plant Indoors
  • Direct Sow/Plant Outdoors
  • Flowers/Harvest
Advice & Videos
How to overwinter dahlia tubers

Sarah discusses the best options for overwintering dahlias – lifting or mulching.

History of the dahlia

First discovered by Aztec Indians and used for food and medicine, this tuber has an interesting history of cultivation.

How to plant and grow dahlia tubers

Find out how to grow strong, healthy dahlias this spring – how to plant, look after and overwinter them, and what to do with your bulbs when...

Sublime dark dahlia flower arrangement

Sarah shows you how to make a gorgeous large arrangement of dahlias.

Planting narcissi bulbs with dahlias

Have a beautiful display of flowers in your garden from March to the first frosts with this simple planting technique.

New favourite dahlia arrangement

Sarah shows you how to make a quick arrangement of colourful dahlias.

Growing dahlias in pots

Sarah shows you her favourite dahlia varieties for pots, and gives you some tips on how to grow them successfully.

How to take dahlia cuttings

Watch and learn how to take dahlia cuttings – turn 1 tuber into 10.

Understanding dahlia groups

A list of the different dahlia groups, along with some classification info and an example of a variety in each group.

Planting up your dahlia tubers

In this video Sarah shows you how to plant up your dahlia tubers.

When To Plant Dahlias

Related Videos
Delivery

Bulb Delivery - When in stock, please allow up to 1 week for delivery.

Plant Delivery - When in stock, please allow up to 1 week for delivery.

Click here to find out more information about our delivery rates and times.

Venetian Dahlia Collection reviews

* * * * - Average based on 38 reviews

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Reviewed 14th August 2019 by Philippa

I am quite green fingered and every young plant or shrub I have bought locally has flourished. Of the 16 dahlia tubers, only half have begun to grow any shoots. I believe some dahlia types are late summer bloomers, so will keep my fingers crossed. However, the experience has pout me off mail order and so I will support my local garden centre. If they haven't got what I want in stock, I will manage without.

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Reviewed 5th August 2019 by Pippa

2 of the tubers had no visible growing points namely New Baby and Jescot Julie and two others were of doubtful quality which eventually succumbed to slugs in spite of careful nursing.

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Reviewed 2nd August 2019 by Patricia

I delighted with that ecollection .but the only reason I didn’t give it five stars is because one the dahlias didn’t grow.

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Reviewed 1st August 2019 by Veronika

Excellent service when my delivery got lost (and found)!

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Reviewed 1st August 2019 by Mrs Cater

Either they were very late flowering or I was insufficiently ruthless with them when they sprouted. I might try again next year.

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Reviewed 1st August 2019 by Ian

Amazing this is the second year I have ordered them truly wonderful well worth it. I planted them in the front garden and loads of people have walked past and passed comment such as " what a wonderful display of flowers" thank you Sarah and team

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Reviewed 1st August 2019 by Carol

Good strong plants which are just beginning to flower they are beautiful!

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Lesley

Planted them and then it rained torrentially but they are doing well. Not flowered yet but it’s been cold and wet in the North of Scotland until the last couple of weeks. Very good instructions for someone who as never grown dalias before.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Madeleine

Out of 8 dahlia tubers two failed to sprout and a third rotted off within a couple of weeks of sprouting. None of the remaining five have flowered yet and three of them look extremely puny in spite of regular feeding with seaweed fertilizer.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Alex

My Dahlias have grown really well, all except for one which never sprouted at all . I am very pleased with the rich colours and am sure I will enjoy them until the first frosts. The variety that did not grow was new baby.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by K J Meakin

Very reliable quality and superb range of colours

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Julie

Really pleased with the Venetian Dahlia collection, all are flowering well and the colours just look amazing together.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Sharon

Good quick service
Quality. Was very good

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Rosemary

These Venetian colour dahlias were a delight in terms of richness of colour and variety of shape. They were not very floriferous because I didnt cut them back earlier as you advised. My fault, I’m a coward. Also they were unfortunate to have their first year in a very hot,dry summer. We couldn’t give them much water...most reserved for vegetables. Watch them next year though!

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Philippa

I am quite green fingered and every young plant or shrub I have bought locally has flourished. Of the 16 dahlia tubers, only half have begun to grow any shoots. I believe some dahlia types are late summer bloomers, so will keep my fingers crossed. However, the experience has pout me off mail order and so I will support my local garden centre. If they haven't got what I want in stock, I will manage without.

* * * * *

Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Mrs Wright

Fantastic quality plants, excellent information regarding when to expect my delivery, very very pleased with Sarah Raven. Especially pleased with the fact that I can have my plants delivered to the far north of Scotland, and they have arrived in perfect condition.
I have used Sarah Raven before, and will use the company again. Can highly recommend.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Gaynor

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Dawn

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Philippa

Extremely disappointing
Grossly overpriced and the plants have performed significantly less well than plants/tubers I have had from you in the past. I will not be buying plants through you again.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Nigel

Three tubers rotted on me;were half price at the end of the season and u subsequently credited me(thank u).Disappointed though - next year will buy at the beginning of the season

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Helen

Only 6 out of the 8 tubers grew. All 6 flower earring well although the flowers heads of some of them are so heavy that their stems can’t support them. All supposed to be around the same height so I did not worry too much which I put at the front of my bed and which at the back, but some at the back are smaller and so are now hidden. But overall a good display.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Eve

Not all the tubers grew. Disappointed

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Reviewed 11th June 2019 by Helen

They are planted & await results!

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Reviewed 7th June 2019 by Veronika

Excellent service when my delivery got lost (and found)!

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Reviewed 6th June 2019 by Mrs Wright

Fantastic quality plants, excellent information regarding when to expect my delivery, very very pleased with Sarah Raven. Especially pleased with the fact that I can have my plants delivered to the far north of Scotland, and they have arrived in perfect condition.
I have used Sarah Raven before, and will use the company again. Can highly recommend.

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Reviewed 31st May 2019 by Julia

Excellent service and delivery

Gorgeous dahlias

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Reviewed 9th October 2018 by Lonnie

Really pleased with this collection. 7 out of 8 have flowered for ages (the exception was Sam Hopkins which didn’t come up at all). The outstanding one for me was Jescot Julie but they are all lovely and complement each other perfectly. I’ve had lots of good comments. They do need strong staking.

Stunning colours - but stake them well.

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Reviewed 6th October 2018 by Jeanette Sanderson

They were slow to get established as I bought them in the sale, and not all tubers rooted. Those that did have produced stunning flowers. Note to self for next year: they need strong stakes. Mine broke in a September gale but I re-staked them and they're still flowering well in October. One particular variety though was well-liked by blackfly. Others, in the same tub, were untouched.

Venetian Dahlia Collection

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Reviewed 20th July 2018 by Caroline

I am pleased with this collection. They are all flourishing .l have had a bit of a black fly problem on some of the stems, but easy enough to spray off with water, and weather has been very hot and dry.
I have found them easy to grow and look after so far, and the colours and shapes of the flowers are beautiful. I intend to buy some more in other colours to fill gaps in my back garden.

Hmmm, would love to know how to use these better!

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Reviewed 22nd June 2018 by Claire Whitehead

So I started off getting these planted in pots just like in the very helpful video that Sarah shared - and felt great when my plants started growing in the greenhouse! 7 out of the 8 tubers grew - don't know if that's normal? Then another one didn't survive before planting out. Then, once I planted the plants out in mid-May'ish, they all got eaten by slugs... I'm gutted.... Once I noticed the damage I used the wool pellets around them and when I ran out I used egg shells. But I had hoped for a lovely colourful border and was left with nothing. I also planted out some plants bought at a garden centre but they were also eaten. Advice please????

Reply from the Sarah Raven Team:

"Thank you for taking time to review our site. We are sorry to hear that your dahlias have been attacked by slugs. Hopefully they will soon recover and with protection from future snail/slug attack they will flower into late autumn for you.
If we can help you in any way please do contact our customer service team at info@sarahraven.com or by calling 0345 092 0283 and our team will assist you further.
Kind Regards, The Sarah Raven Team

"

Posted 6th July 2018
Venetian Collection

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Reviewed 24th August 2017 by Jane

Beautiful, bright flowers, which have been chosen to complement each other perfectly! Strong, healthy plants produce so many blooms. Perfect for the vase at home, and for the vases of lucky friends, neighbours, family members...

fabulous flowers

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Reviewed 17th August 2017 by Janet Purdie

These dahlias are absolutely stunning. It is my first year growing them, but they are large, strong plants which just keep on producing flowers. My soil is chalk and flint (Thames Valley) so I don't lift dahlias in the winter, and I'm hoping that they'll be fine with a thick blanket of mulch. This year the real stars have been 'Thomas A Edison, with deep magenta-purple flowers 18cm across, 'Jescot Julie', with two-tone flame colours, and 'New Baby', with masses of orange pompoms which last for ages. I recommend these lovely flowers to everyone, but do be aware that they grow so large and lush that you will probably need to support them in some way.

Venetian Collection

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Reviewed 23rd February 2016 by Gillian

At first I was disappointed with the slow growth, but it was a chilly spring to be fair. Once the plants started to grow they just got better and better. From 8 plants I had loads of vases of flowers for not only myself but family and neighbours right into October. Stunning!

Venetian Collection

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Reviewed 28th December 2015 by Julie

I bought this collection 3 years ago. I garden on very heavy clay soil so I dig up the tubers each year and over winter them in the shed. I have had stunning flowers every year and the tubers are now enormous! I have been very pleased with this collection, they look great in a vase and wonderful in the garden from June to November.

Five star dahlia collection

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Reviewed 12th April 2015 by Dr C

I agree with Gail. This collection would convert just about anyone over to growing dahlias. As a group these produce some show-stopping blooms. I am not far from developing an obsession but unfortunately I am running out of space. These work great in the border or as cut flowers in a vase. Just follow Sarah's advice for wonderful, long-lasting blooms from June through to October/November.

Venetian Collection

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Reviewed 9th November 2014 by Gail Durbin

I used to hate dahlias but this collection would convert anyone. The colours bounce off each other, there is an interesting variety of forms and the lovely 'Jescot Julie' with orange on the front of the petals and plum on the back pulls an arrangement of the cut flowers together. This is the first time I have grown dahlias from tubers and may well be the start of an obsession. This collection would make a wonderful present for other novices. Very strongly recommended.

Venetian collection

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Reviewed 1st September 2014 by Pam Pickering

First impression was of disappointment but as the season progressed they got better and better. Now they look really stunning and get a great deal of admiratin

Masses of Flowers for Arrangements

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Reviewed 16th June 2014 by Leanne

Beautiful flowers which stand out in the garden and look great in a vase. Lots of people commented on how pretty they all looked together.

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